ESPOUSE, espouz'. L. spondeo, sponsus, the letter n, in the latter, must be casual, or the modern languages have lost the letter. The former is most probable in which case, spondeo was primarily spodeo, sposus.
1. To betroth.
When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph. Matthew 1
2. To betroth to promise or engage in marriage, by contract in writing, or by some pledge as, the king espoused his daughter to a foreign prince. Usually and properly followed by to, rather than with.
3. To marry to wed.
4. To unite intimately or indissolubly.
I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11
5. To embrace to take to one's self, with a view to maintain as, to espouse the quarrel of another to espouse a cause.